Carbondale residents could see smoke from prescribed burns this spring.
Pitkin County, the Forest Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife are combining forces to burn up to 300 acres east of Highway 133 in Avalanche Creek.
This is part of a program to improve habitat for elk, deer, bighorn sheep and other wildlife. Fire adds nutrients to the soil, which makes a healthier habitat and more plentiful food sources. The controlled burns will also reduce the amount of fuel that could ignite in a forest fire.
There will be 20 firefighters on-hand to control the burn, which will take place in either April or May, when conditions aren’t too wet, or too hot.
